Fashion

Star on the rise: Thomas Wakeford

Fashion

Star on the rise: Thomas Wakeford

The magnetic attraction to London, England, as the new center of the fashion universe, is one so strong that it is pulling Canadian fashion talent across the pond at an alarmingly fast rate. The city already plays host to our homegrown super talents - Erdem, Mark Fast and Jean Pierre Braganza - but there is a new wave of up-and-comers to keep your eye on. Of this new generation, we’re putting the spotlight first on new label, Thomas Wakeford; a progressive womenswear line by design-duo London-based,Thomas Wakeford, 28, and Toronto-native, Raphael Castelmezzano, 23.

After meeting in 2009, the pair soon formed a friendship that would lead to their creative and business partnership upon Wakeford’s completion of his MA in womenswear at Central Saint Martins last spring. Castelmezzano, who moved to London at the tender age of 19 to explore his fashion career, has assisted fashion editors at AnOther Man, Dazed & Confused and Harper’s Bazaar. Later becoming the Editorial Coordinator and Production Manager of Man About Town. It seemed like a match made in fashion heaven.

Together they use Wakeford’s understanding of cut and fabrication, and Castelmezzano’s stylistic point of view to produce their cutting-edge brand. For Fall 2011, they present a collection of minimalist silhouettes in obscure fabrications that challenge conventional garment construction and texture combinations. Keeping it in the Canadian family, they reached out to London-based, Canadian photographer, Justin Borbely, to shoot their latest campaign and lookbook.

We chatted with this talented duo about style, YouTube, vacations and inspirations.

Who is the girl you have in mind when you design clothing? TC: Young, fun, cultured, ambitious, slightly masculine and slightly tough.RC: She changes each season but she’s always urban, cool, and hard.

What’s so great about working in fashion and living in London? TW: The support and competition is really healthy in London, there's a lot of opportunities and a lot of other designers trying to achieve similar goals. If you don't work hard and push yourself, there's plenty who will.RC: The pace of life means you’re always doing something and forward-thinking fashion really begins in London, so it’s exciting to be in that world.

Who has got great style? TW: My Dad. His style is smart, casual and classic. Never intentionally fashiony, but considered and timeless.RC: Ashley Olsen.

Where do you get inspiration from? RC: YouTube, culture, photography, life in general, mixing references to create something new. Dream supermodel to star in a Thomas Wakeford campaign? TW: 90s Kate moss, before it all got too glossy.RC: I would probably mess around with Daria and bring her back in a weird way.

What gets you excited? TW: Good design and good music. RC: Discussing an idea or thought with Thomas.

What are your words to live by?TW: Work hard, be happy the rest will follow.RC: Positive thinking, hard work and a good heart will get you to where you need to be. What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned this year? TW: Don't worry about it, get it done.RC: Things can happen.

What’s your London secret spot?TW: Sounds of the Universe record shop in Soho is a must for anyone who loves good music.

How do you like to spend a Sunday afternoon? TW: Having a roast in the pub with friends and newspapers, or just relaxing watching films and reading.RC: Sitting outside the pub drinking beer with friends.

What is your favourite gallery in London? TW: The Tate Modern's size and shows are great, I also like the National Portrait Gallery.RC: Gagosian Gallery.

What’s the one thing you would love to do this summer? TW: Win the lottery.RC: Go on holiday for a week.

How do you like to spend a hot and sunny day?TW: Swimming in lake Geneva, walking around East London or a BBQ with friends until the early hours.RC: Laying by the pool.

Where is paradise to you? TW: Sailing around the Ionian Islands in Greece came pretty close.RC: Mauritius.

Frank + Oak and the NBA team up on Raptors merch

Trends

Frank + Oak and the NBA team up on Raptors merch

Canadian fashion label Frank + Oak is always up to something, and tomorrow the Montreal-based brand will drop a 9-piece Raptors collection in collaboration with the NBA. The pieces that make up the line are directional, minimal and best of all—unisex. The pieces include a crisp Oxford shirt patterned with a subtle team logo, a heather grey waffle knit mock-neck and a leather backpack. The coolest piece might be the two-tone pop-over shirt. The Oxford's mock-neck collar and mix of materials offer a completely new take on fan gear. Even fair-weather fans (hey, no judgement) will be tempted by this sleek collab.

The collection will launch tomorrow online and at Frank + Oak's Queen West and CF Sherway Gardens outposts as well as the Real Sports Apparel shop at the Air Canada Center. The brand is set to release merch for 5 more NBA teams in 2017. Until then, go Raptors, go!

Celebrity

Gigi Hadid is going on a social media cleanse

Celebrity

Gigi Hadid is going on a social media cleanse

Gigi Hadid and Instagram are about to go on a break. The model recently revealed she'd be taking some time off from the social-media site after the holidays.

"I'm taking a month off, actually, during New Years. I'm not deleting my account, I'm just taking the apps off my phone," she told ELLE US of her social-media hiatus. "It's empowering, not just for people in the spotlight, for everyone. At the end of the day I'm choosing what I'm showing you. A lot of the world feels so entitled to other peoples' lives, which is so crazy. I'm going to take a break when I feel like it, and when I come back and share it with you, if you want to be supportive and still follow me, that's great. But, if you're going to be upset that I need to be human for a month, than maybe I don't want your follow anyway."

While we'll miss her killer feed – which includes her slaying the Victoria's Secret runway, arm in arm with beau Zayn Malik (see below), and #ootds in some of the coolest athleisure we've ever seen, we get it.

Gigi is not the only star to take a break from the 'gram this year. Justin Bieber, Kim Kardashian and Selena Gomez also chose to detox from the app. "It has gotten to the point that people won't even say hi to me or recognize me as a human," Bieber wrote on Instagram before deleting his account, "I feel like a zoo animal, and I wanna be able to keep my sanity."

Shopping

Join us today for a holiday gift extravaganza!

The holiday gifting struggle is real. Start by taking a look at our holiday gift guide. Still aren't quite sure what to get someone? Tell us who you can't figure out a gift for (and be as specific as possible: BF of 6 months or 6 years? Sister who spends all day watching makeup tutorials? Workplace Secret Santa? etc.) using the hashtag #TellELLECanada and tagging @ELLECanada on Instagram and/or Twitter. Then, tune in to our livestream on the ELLE Canada Facebook page December 9 at 1:30pm to see what we've picked!

We will randomly select one entry to win a beauty advent calendar from The Body Shop ($99 value).